TOP 25 COURSES Subcommittee – Gatekeeper Courses

For the courses: ACC120, CIS110, COM231, ENG111, ENG113, MAT161, PSY150, SPA111, gaps between existing success rates and the target of 70% ranged from .2% to 21.1%; gaps between existing success rates and the target of 75% ranged from 5.2% and 26.1%.

Based on a survey of course practices, the one major change that could be expected to raise success rates is the introduction of RED/ENG prerequisites for the courses: COM110, COM231, HIS111, PSY150, SOC210, SOC213.

Overall curriculum course grade data shows that after the new W policy went into effect, there were more A-C grades, more F’s, and fewer student W’s. The rate of instructor W’s remained roughly the same.

Other Information Regarding the Decision Making Process:

The number of additional completions that could be generated by boosting success rates in even a select number of gatekeeper courses dwarfs the number of additional completions that would be generated by closing demographic or delivery gaps.

Suggested Qualitative Data Needed:

We need to know what exactly causes lower success rates in gatekeeper courses, and best practices for increasing success rates without harming the quality of learning.